What a noble architectural achievement. The outhouse. The privy. The backhouse. The kybo. Not much more than a 3 or 4 ft. wide, seven feet tall, building with a roof, a seat, and a hole. Always placed away from the main living quarters, primarily due to the smell. But the outhouse was free of modern day problems, like a backed up sewer, because there was none. They used no water, because none was hooked up. And early on, no toilet paper, because there was none. That's how the practice of reading a magazine while sitting on the throne was started. Often, there were important pages missing.

Actually, the baby boomer generation almost missed the outhouse era. Indoor plumbing started up before 1946, but was slow to develop. Our home had an indoor bathroom by the time I was born but we still had an outhouse, which we used on an emergency basis. My grandparents, who lived just down the block, used there outhouse as a primary bathroom right up to the mid 1970's. I guess old habits were hard to break. In reality, I don't think my grandmother wanted to pay for it.
The outdoor john was free.

Outhouses were personalized in numerous ways. Some were quite elaborate, others pretty crude. The nicest I personally ever visited was carpeted, had a padded seat, two holes, was wallpapered, had some pictures hanging, and a design was cut into the door, which provided some lighting. The design most often seen was a quarter moon, indicating the outhouse was for females only. The male symbol was a star. While seemingly a good idea, most homes only had one outhouse anyway, so the symbol on the door didn't make a whole lot of difference. Your primary protection from intruders was a latch.

The most vivid memories I have about outhouses have to do with Halloween. It was a Halloween tradition to tip outhouses over at homes where you didn't get a very good treat. I think this was a small town prank carried out by many a Halloweener. I remember three specific occasions where I was involved in tipping over outhouses. One happened to be occupied at the time, which came as quite a surprise. The second involved one of the tippers falling into the hole, resulting in quite a stink, and the third had to do with kidnapping the outhouse and putting it on the roof of the high school. That one cost us three days detention. Being young, and all of us having indoor toilets, made us ignorant of the significance of an outhouse and the trauma a tipping could cause the residents. It was really a pretty rotten trick to play. But we always had one heck of a good time doing it.

My experience with outhouses was somewhat limited. Today,it's hard for young folks to imagine going outside to the bathroom, with newer homes sometimes having 2, 3, or 4 bathrooms. But there was a time you went to the outhouse, whether in rain, snow, sleet, or hail, 10 degree weather or 90 degrees. Some things you just don't miss about the good old days. Outhouses are one of them.

* It means having an ultimate respect for the individual.
* It means respecting the life choices that people make, so long as they do not harm others.
* It means allowing people to worship as they please. The government has no business supporting or opposing any religion.
* It means fighting to have people be paid a living wage by employers.
* It means giving people a helping hand when they're down on their luck.
* It means fighting for justice. Laws are a necessary part of society, but they are not always just or right. There are times we must stand up and demand change. The voting booth is only one avenue to produce that change. But it is best to make sure that change you are after is accomplished in a non-violent way.
* It means placing more importance on the environment than on profit.
* It means people have a right to express their views. The public is capable of determining who to listen to and who not to listen to.
* It means a public education should be available to everyone, from K-college, on an equal basis.
* It means health-care is a right, not a privilege.
* It means that disliking someone because of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, gender, is not only inconsistent with a free society, it is immoral.
* Finally, it means hoping that one day we will get it together in such a way that helps all of humanity, not just the chosen few.

Feel free to add to the list. What does it mean, to you, to be a liberal? (If a right-winger wants to try to answer, please keep it civil and sensible).

OFFICER, I SWEAR TO DRUNK I AIN'T GOD.

* Why is it, at golf outings, the scores always seem so much better than the players?
* A lot of people take mulligans. This is when you don't count your first, or second, or third or fourth shots.
* When something is obstructing your swing, technically, you're not suppose to move the ball. But if it happens to move by accident, well, what can you do?
* Part of being a golfer is buying the best, newest equipment. This fools you into thinking that one day you might get better.
* I hate duffing one on the fairway. I never count it.
* My best score ever was an 82, which was within at least 5 or 6 strokes of the truth.
* I usually don't have any trouble with water holes. I skip them.
* I once had a hole-in-one, but my playing partners didn't remember me teeing off.
* I like keeping score. It's a miracle how much an 8 can look like a 4.
* Golf has a lot to do with etiquette. Etiquette apparently has a lot to do with cussing.
* Beer and golf really don't go together. When I drink and play golf, I usually end up getting lost.
* I don't really like to play golf with women. I hate washing my balls in front of them.
* I love golf. Golf has been really good to me. Why, if it weren't for golf, I'd probably be mowing the lawn, which my wife really seems to enjoy.
* On a par 5, they told me I got a birdie. I chose an eagle.
* I like golfing at political fundraisers. Lying is encouraged.
* Golf is a game that builds character. You are in control. You control your own destiny. No one else can be blamed. Well, maybe the damn fool who talked while you were teeing off, but the bottom line is, it's you against you. Are you capable of conquering all the obstacles placed before you with dignity and grace? Can you overcome adversity? Can you lose with honor? Win without boasting? Can you, in the end, explain to your spouse where you've been for the last 5 hours?

WHAT PART OF "GET OUT OF IRAQ" DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND?